O’Neill has come out of retirement not once but twice this season to bail Celtic out.
The 74-year-old won seven trophies during his first stint at Celtic between 2000-05, including three league titles.
When he got the emergency call to replace Rodgers, O’Neill had been out of management for more than six years.
Under his guidance, Celtic reeled off five successive league wins to move level with Hearts, with a game in hand.
Then he had to do it all again.
Barely four weeks after waving his goodbyes, O’Neill was back and Hearts were six points clear, with both sides 20 matches into the campaign.
Defeat by Dundee United at Tannadice left Celtic five off the pace with seven rounds remaining, with Rangers sitting second. O’Neill said he would need seven wins to have a chance. He has delivered the first six.
McInnes finished ninth with Kilmarnock last season, two places below Hearts.
During his time at Aberdeen, he finished as a runner-up to Celtic three years running.
His silverware collection is dwarfed by O’Neill’s but Hearts do have their own wily old master in the background, with Sir Alex Ferguson offering guidance to McInnes.
The last man to break the Old Firm duopoly has been seen in a maroon tie at Tynecastle and is in regular contact with the Hearts boss.